Sarkozy Joins The Resistance

The First Essential Scary Truth

The Open Microphone Gaffe is the scourge of political class.  One careless remark made near a microphone that is still live and a career can be sidetracked for months; see the Ronald Reagan we start bombing comment of 1984 for an example.  However it does give the average punter a look into the mind of the leader with loose lips.

French President Nicholas Sarkozy and President Barack Obama brought a recent example of microphone-based foot in mouth disease to the public on November 7, 2011.

(From YnetNews.com)

French President Barack Obama that he could not “stand” Prime Minister G20 press conference on Thursday, the two presidents retired to a private room, to further discuss the matters of the day.

 

According to a Monday report in the French website “Arret sur Images,” after facing reporters for a for a G20 press conference on Thursday, the two presidents retired to a private room, to further discuss the matters of the day.

 

The conversation apparently began with President Obama criticizing Sarkozy for not having warned him that France would be voting in favor of the Palestinian membership bid in UNESCO despite Washington’s strong objection to the move.

The conversation then drifted to Netanyahu, at which time Sarkozy declared: “I cannot stand him. He is a liar.” According to the report, Obama replied: “You’re fed up with him, but I have to deal with him every day!”

The remark was naturally meant to be said in confidence, but the two leaders’ microphones were accidently left on, making the would-be private comment embarrassingly public.

As of this writing neither the French, Israeli governments or US have had any comment on the Sarkozy/Obama gaffe.  However various media outlets have noted the French President’s attempt to reach to the Israeli’s and strengthen national ties.

(From FoxNews.com)

Since becoming president in 2007, Sarkozy has tried to strengthen French ties with Israel while also maintaining its traditional good relations with Arab allies. His latest comments may complicate French and European efforts toward Mideast peace.

That a Frenchman should hate a Jew is nothing new (excuse the alliteration). With the exception of Napoleon, the French government has a tradition of Jew hating that has brought the world such high points as the expulsions of 1182, 1306, 1394, the Dreyfus Affair and the infamous 1940 Statute on the Jews.  However that a leader of France should be so outspoken against a Jew reminds me of another time in recent French history: July 1940-August 1944 when France was controlled by the Vichy Government.

But hey, it’s ok.  When called on his tasteless, careless tongue, I’m sure Nicholas Sarkozy will either claim like Claude Taittinger when asked about his father using Jewish slave labor to make champagne for the Nazi’s that “My father, Pierre Taittinger, was more than just a universally admired politician. Over the years he became a confirmed follower of a certain lifestyle in keeping with his well-recognized cordiality.”  Or perhaps he will revert to the tried and true: I was a member of the resistance.

By the way how long did it take the French to get here before the Battle of Yorktown in 1781?